The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

The word “cheap” has dual meanings. On the one hand, it indicates affordability, a practical option for a budget-conscious person. But we’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the word “cheap” indicates low-quality hearing aids.

Regrettably, differentiating between an economical purchase and an item of minimal value is often challenging. This is especially relevant in the realm of hearing aids.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” rings particularly relevant. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not automatically going for the most expensive option. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices often omit important details about their products that customers should know about.

They often just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” typically offer limited functionality, primarily amplifying or decreasing overall volume. When you simply amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are unwanted background sounds you don’t want.

The purpose of having a hearing aid is totally defeated if it also amplifies undesirable sound.

A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does much more than just crank up the volume. It decreases background sound while expertly managing sound and maximizing clarity. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your particular hearing requirements, closely mimicking natural hearing with greater accuracy.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

There are stringent rules about what an advertiser can call a hearing aid as published by the Food and Drug Administration.

Sadly, there are many devices out there that are advertised as hearing aids when they are actually personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named such because they can only amplify sound.

Most reputable providers comply. But there are some vendors, especially online, that may be misinformed about what characterizes the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and as a result, they put out misleading claims about their products. Some even incorrectly advertise that they are FDA-approved.

For the majority of kinds of hearing loss they won’t be helpful at all

The majority of people who lose their hearing will slowly lose certain frequencies of sound before others. For instance, you may have no trouble hearing a man with a low voice, but struggle with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it difficult to understand.

You get overall amplification with cheap hearing aids. But simply turning up the overall volume will not be sufficient for people who have a tough time hearing specific frequencies. Moreover, turning up the volume substantially to hear the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor may result in your adult son’s voice sounding like a roar, potentially contributing to hearing loss if exposed to high volumes for extended periods.

High-quality hearing aids provide a solution by being programmable to make up for the loss of particular frequencies. They can automatically adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, providing a more customized and reliable hearing experience.

You might get a lot of feedback

Cheap hearing aids are typically not custom fit to your ears. Without that custom fit, you’ll generate a feedback loop. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it jiggles around. This will generate a deafening screech.

They normally don’t have cellphone support

Functionality is frequently sacrificed when opting for budget options, and this holds true for many inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. When thinking about phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a major hurdle. Trying to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone results in capturing not only the caller’s voice but also the sounds of your ear, lips, clothing, and hair rubbing against the phone, making it even more challenging to hear the person on the other end.

In comparison, digital hearing aids utilize telecoil or Bluetooth technology, creating a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. Overall communication and clarity will be improved so you can be certain you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They’re not made for people with hearing loss

This could come as a surprise because so many people think otherwise. PSAPs were never made for individuals with hearing loss. They were made to amplify sound for people who have fairly good hearing.

If you have very slight hearing loss then cheap devices may help a little. But they won’t be of much use for individuals who actually need hearing aids.

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

There are many ways to get hearing aids affordably. They may even be covered by insurance or other third parties. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing options. If you suspect you have hearing loss, begin by getting checked out. Call us today for a consultation, we can help decide what’s best for you, depending on your amount and type of hearing loss, and make sure you land a pair that won’t break the bank!

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